Strawberry Chia Jam (Paleo + Vegan)
This Strawberry Chia Jam is an easy and delicious way to preserve the summer’s freshest, sweetest strawberries! This four-ingredient recipe is naturally thickened with chia seeds and sweetened with a touch of maple syrup. You’ll love this easy paleo + vegan recipe.
When was the last time you had a perfectly ripe, super sweet, and juicy strawberry? If your answer isn’t in the last week or so, you’re doing summer wrong!
Luckily, I can say the last time I had one was about an hour ago at the farmer’s market. I bought a few pints of picked-this-morning local strawberries that were warm from the sun and incredibly delicious. Plump, sweet, and so juicy the juice runs down your chin – just as a great strawberry should be.
Strawberries right now are so good and I’m lucky that here in San Diego, we are able to get local strawberries pretty much all year round. But they’re never as good, and affordable, as they are during the peak of summer.
That’s why NOW is the perfect time to make yourself some strawberry chia jam. You may go through it super quickly like I did. I love spooning it on granola and yogurt, or eating it on toast…or, if you live in a place where you can’t get good strawberries during the winter, you can be more practical and put it in the freezer for those cold days when you need a taste of summer.
This strawberry chia jam is incredibly easy to make. It tastes like a fresh-picked strawberry hitting your mouth whenever you take a bite. You’re going to want to have a batch in your house ASAP!
You only need four ingredients!
Strawberries, of course. Use fresh and local, if possible. I like to pick mine up from the farmer’s market and sometimes they’ll sell dented berries for cheaper. This is perfect if you’re making jam with them so you can get a deal.
Maple Syrup, to sweeten the Strawberry Chia Jam!. You can also use honey if you prefer, but it won’t be vegan. If your berries aren’t super sweet, add more to your tastes.
Lemon Juice for brightness in flavor.
Chia Seeds, to help thicken the jam up with no pectin needed! I love the little crunchy bits the chia seeds make too – such a tasty, fun texture, and they’re also full of good-for-you nutrients.
Skip the jam that comes with cups and cups of sugar, please. The fruit is sweet enough on its own, and we want to let those fresh flavors shine! Give this a try and you’ll never go back. Enjoy!
Want more easy chia jam recipes?!
PrintStrawberry Chia Jam (Paleo + Vegan)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 1 ½ cups 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound strawberries (quartered, fresh or frozen will work)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup, or honey
- 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the strawberries and maple syrup. Cover and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. After 5 minutes, when the mixture is starting to release juices, use a potato masher (or a fork) to lightly mash the strawberries. This may take a little longer if the berries were frozen.
- Add the chia seeds and lemon juice and reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue cooking uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent the bottom from scorching, for about 30 to 35 minutes or until the mixture has thickened and there are no big fruit chunks left. The jam will continue to thicken as it cools so don’t let it reduce too much.
- Let cool completely before transferring to clean jars. Keep in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to a year.
Oh how I love chia jams! We have been getting SO many berries in our CSA box each week – I really need to make myself some jam!
I really need to get myself a CSA subscription – so jealous! Thanks for the love Ashley.
This is a perfect jam which I can have for breakfast! Delicious recipe!
This is a good jam, made two batches and although both were tasty, the one with honey is my favourite.
Not a big fan of jams, but you make it look so simple and delicious I will just have to try it :) Thank you for sharing.
I hope you love it, Ashley! Thanks for the love.
Your recipes are just awesome and sooo healthy. Jam turned out really yummy.